If you already bought the car though, they have no financial incentive to update it.
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iOS 27: 8+ New CarPlay Features
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If you already bought the car though, they have no financial incentive to update it.
I didn't even know that anything on my 2017 CarPlay-enabled car needed the car maker to ever do anything! I thought any new CarPlay features came from updates on my iPhone.
I7guy
macrumors Westmere
Probably Apple doesn’t want the liability. If something happened there would be a lawsuit faster than snap, crackle and pop.
Siri being smart enough to look up music accurately would be huge for me while driving.
It's my understanding those wired to wireless CarPlay adapters (I use one myself in my 2017 Hyundai Azera) require CarPlay to already exist. That would say that the OEM CarPlay is still in play somehow and the wireless widgets just do some sort of conversion.
That depends on multi-touch support on the screen itself. There IS a good gesture you can use to zoom in and out without hitting those tiny +/– buttons:
Double-tap the map, but don't lift your finger the second time, then drag your finger up/down to zoom in/out. Basically it's tap-tap hold, drag. (I'm doing a crap job of describing it, but you can also practice on your iPhone, where it also works.)
edit: Found a GIF online that illustrates it better (click it to see the animation)
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Texting while driving (even with Siri) just sucks so bad.
I just have my Driving focus set up to auto-reply to everyone who texts that I'm driving and if it's important they can call. I'd rather just talk, TBH, or respond later.
Correct. But they can also change the signal somehow, since mine is changing how speed is being reported to the phone. So theoretically, an adapter could add the signal telling the phone that the car is in park, enabling video, even if the car is not sending it.
Also, if you really want video on your CarPlay screen, you can already add it. In addition to the wireless adapter, I have an HDMI-to-CarPlay adapter with a Roku stick plugged into it that I use to watch TV while I’m charging my car or parked somewhere chilling and smoking pot.
I finally got to use CarPlay recently. It’s definitely better than the native vehicle interfaces I’m used to.
The lack of pinch to zoom was actually surprising.
Doesn’t matter to me anymore. Bought a Tesla. CarPlay seems like a joke now.
I have an old pioneer CarPlay radio that barely got any support from the manufacturer when it was new. I have very little faith video playback will ever be supported on it.
That video playback feature is going to be woefully supported by manufacturers because the brands outfitting their vehicles with high quality infotainment systems that would adequately playback video have already have deals with Disney+, Netflix, etc to provide apps for their infotainment OS.
I got a BMW in 2025 and that was the moment that CarPlay just became an Apple Music, Classical, and Overcast launcher. The BMW navigation has much better integration with the HUD and gauge cluster (though CarPlay navigation can display in the gauge cluster) and it supports enhanced CarPlay integration so all the CarPlay apps just show up in the iDrive app menu (therefore I can favorite and/or associate with gestures CarPlay apps like Music, Classical, Overcast, and Messages for quick access).
CarPlay is still essential but it isn't driving my entire car tech experience anymore.
So far, carplay on beta has been less than optimal. The new siri has an even harder time with speech to text and doesnt automatically close/end after you send the message via voice, I have to physically click the end call button on the steering wheel or select an option on the car screen to get her to go away
Also, why cant we get the speed camera and red light camera notification when outside of active routing. I want the alert/message to play even when I dont have a desitnation entered...
jhfenton
macrumors 65816
Current model Toyotas do, including my 2026 Toyota C-HR EV. It gets live battery data from the car and uses it for routing to chargers if needed before arriving at my destination. In town, it just shows what the expected battery SOC will be on arrival.
iMac The Knife
macrumors 68000
For those who use it, how is Apple CarPlay these days? My wife can use it in her 2023 Mercedes SUV, but it has to be hard wired in, which is ridiculous.
jz0309
macrumors P6
Get a wireless adapter, I did that for my 24 Ioniq 5 as that model didn't support wireless, newer ones do. Works fine for me over the past 2 years
I want to be able to ask Siri to show me the least congested route on surface streets. I hope that happens.
With iOS 27, Apple is introducing several CarPlay features that will improve your in-car experience, both when you're driving and when you're idle in the car. From new video experiences to Siri AI, there are multiple new options to look forward to.
Video Apps
CarPlay apps can include video browsing capabilities, so you can browse for and watch videos on your in-car display while parked. The video playback feature does not work when a car is in motion for safety reasons, but if you're watching something and shift into drive, playback will switch to audio only.
iPhone apps that support AirPlay can also stream content to the car's display.
Video apps require car manufacturers to enable support on the vehicle, and no automakers have announced plans to add support as of now. The Apple TV app is the first confirmed app that will work with the feature.
Siri AI
Apple's smarter, more capable version of Siri can be used in the car for hands-free conversations. Siri AI for CarPlay works like Siri AI on other devices, so you can ask it to complete tasks or find information for you while you drive.
Conversations in CarPlay sync to the Siri app on iPhone so you can pick them up later.
Audio
There is a persistent mini-player for the Now Playing CarPlay template. The player shows artwork and playback controls in the top right corner of audio and media apps.
The Now Playing interface in CarPlay also has a progress bar, so you can jump to a specific spot in a song, podcast, or audiobook.
Wallpapers
CarPlay includes the new iOS 27 wallpapers, formatted for the CarPlay interface. The wallpapers have wave-style designs in a range of colors, with 14 total options available.
CarPlay in iOS 27 also supports larger, more interactive content thumbnails, and it uses the updated Liquid Glass icons for apps like Maps and Weather.
Route Data
Navigation apps like Apple Maps and Google Maps can share route data with a vehicle for adding information like EV charging stops in directions. The car can check a map route against the range of the vehicle, and suggest a charging stop.
Reliability and Location Accuracy
Apple says wireless CarPlay is more reliable in iOS 27, with improved GPS location accuracy and navigation heading detection.
Voice Control
All app categories are can now offer a voice control option, and Apple has designed a voice control template that can be integrated into apps for voice conversations.
Natural Language Improvements
In Apple Maps, Apple extended natural language search to navigation, and that also works with CarPlay. You can ask Siri for directions that avoid toll roads, highways, and more.
Compatibility
Using the new CarPlay features in iOS 27 requires a connected iPhone with iOS 27 installed. For Siri AI, you'll need an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence, which includes the iPhone 15 Pro and later.
Availability
iOS 27 is available to developers and public beta testers right now, with a public launch expected in September.
Article Link: iOS 27: 8+ New CarPlay Features
jhfenton
macrumors 65816
It's fine, if the UI is a bit clunky at times. Connectivity wise, I haven't had any issues with wireless CarPlay in my 2026 Toyota. It connects automatically and jumps into the CarPlay interface on the main screen.
The only time I have to connect manually is when I remote start the car (through the app). If the phone's not in the car for the power up, it doesn't switch to CarPlay when the phone shows up a few minutes later. It takes 3 taps into the car's system to switch to CarPlay.
How about enlarging clickable buttons so they cna be clicked easily instead of forcing the person driving to click text area? How about allowing the artist name to eb clickable everywhere to go to the artist's albums? how about clicking an album cover and showing all the songs on the album? Why are these basic UI things so difficult??
AppleTO
macrumors 68000
Major pet peeve of mine. This is an issue with many maps apps/built in maps.
My built in system does the live notifications even without routing, but doesn’t show traffic unless routing.
The various apps show traffic at all times, but won’t do other alerts without a route being set.
No one wants to set a route every time they go out… I don’t understand why the various app devs don’t get this.
On the other hand, I always want to be able to see traffic and be notified of anything oncoming, but I don’t need directions.
Smith288
macrumors 65816
Ta_whirimatea
macrumors regular
If it doesn’t show more than 12 albums then it’s junk. I have more than ‘a thousand songs in my pocket’ yet I can’t play them all on CarPlay unless I stop my car & waste my time pressing buttons on my iPhone rendering the car play interface useless. Stop adding features & just fix the simple things.
Come on apple think about the UI for C sake!
Come on apple think about the UI for C sake!